On Thursday, June 24, 2021, a Merced County jury convicted Johnny Thao of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon against a male victim.

Following nearly two weeks of testimony and deliberation, Mr. Thao was also convicted of felon in illegal possession of a firearm and misdemeanor battery against his on and off girlfriend.

All of the counts against Mr. Thao were based upon an incident that took place on August 2, 2020, and ended with both Mr. Thao and the male victim seeking treatment for their wounds in the Emergency Room at Mercy Medical Center in Merced.

According to the testimony of the two victims, Mr. Thao traveled to his girlfriend’s home Sunday night, but upon his arrival, he became upset when he saw another man was there.

Mr. Thao immediately argued with the confidential victim and began to assault her. The male victim intervened to assist the confidential victim, and Mr. Thao responded by removing a .22 caliber revolver from his waistband.

The male victim ran away from the home, but Mr. Thao pursued him while firing five to six shots from the revolver, the male victim was grazed by one bullet and struck in his right arm by a second.

The confidential victim also suffered bruising, redness, and swelling from Mr. Thao’s battery.

Based upon the evidence, the jury found it true that Mr. Thao personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the male victim and used a firearm during the commission of the crime.

Retired Merced County Superior Court Judge Ronald Hanssen, who heard the case, found it true that Mr. Thao previously suffered a strike conviction. On the charge of felony assault with a firearm with the enhancements.

Mr. Thao faces a possible maximum sentence of twenty-six years in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Mr. Thao will return to court for sentencing on July 26, 2021.

Deputy District Attorney Kayla Boyer prosecuted the case and Detective Daniel Ramirez of the Merced County Sheriff Office was the lead investigator.